Church of Christ in the Congo

Leadership

The Church is led by a National President who holds the rank of Bishop, and two Vice-Presidents. The National President is the presiding minister of the Cathedral of the Protestant Centennial in the Congo (French: Cathédrale du Centenaire Protestant au Congo), also known as the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa (French: Paroisse Internationale Protestante de Kinshasa) - the de facto head church of the ECC.^{[citation needed]}

One of the previous National Presidents of the ECC was Monsignor Pierre Marini Bodho. After the Second Congo War, transitional institutions were formed that included former combatants, non-belligerent opposition members, and civil society representatives. During the 2003–2006 transition period, Mgr. Marini Bodho, seen as a neutral and broadly acceptable figure representing organized religion within civil society, served as President of the Senate, the upper house of the Congolese Parliament. He later won a Senate seat in the 2006 elections and continued to serve as a government senator.^[7]

At the provincial level, the ECC is overseen by the Provincial Presidency, which includes the Provincial President, Provincial Vice-President, and attached administrative or specialized services. The Provincial President serves as the representative of the National President and the Protestant faith within the province, and advocates for the Protestant communities before provincial authorities, government institutions, and public organizations.^[8] He is granted a special mandate from the National President to act legally on behalf of the ECC, its communities, or affiliated organizations when needed.^[8]

The Provincial President is the chief administrator of the Church in the province, who manages daily operations and coordinates the work of the attached services. He is responsible for maintaining peace and cooperation among communities and ensuring the proper operation of shared initiatives, such as youth centers, schools, chaplaincies, hospitals, and community development projects, whether initiated locally or supported by the national or provincial synod.^[8] In cases of conflicts within or between communities, he works to achieve reconciliation and peaceful solutions, with the Provincial Moderator specifically handling disputes within a single community. The terms of office for the Provincial President and Vice-President are six years and are renewable.^[8]

Statistics

By 2025, it would have 100 member Christian denominations and 34,528 schools.^[9]

In 2010, 59 Protestant communities were listed as part of the ECC:^[5]

Membership admission

For a community to become an official or associate member of the ECC, it must be Protestant and legally recognized, affirm Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Head of the Church, and accept the Bible as the sole foundation of faith. The community must uphold the unity and doctrine of the universal Church and avoid actions that could harm its interests. It is also required to recognize the authority of the ECC constitution and abide by decisions made by its governing bodies, particularly in resolving internal or inter-community conflicts.^[5] These decisions are considered binding as long as they respect public laws and order. The community must likewise maintain peaceful relations with others, promote church unity, and not originate from a schism within an existing member or sister church (Catholic or Orthodox).^[5] The application process includes obtaining a recommendation from the relevant provincial synod, submitting detailed information about its beliefs, structure, and leadership to the National President, and receiving approval from the National Executive Committee (comité exécutif national) and the National Synod after a three-month trial period. A membership fee must also be paid.^[5]

Withdrawal conditions

Any full or associate member may resign from the ECC by submitting a resignation letter to the National President, who will forward it to the National Executive Committee along with a report from the National Synod in whose jurisdiction the member operates. The resignation becomes effective only after the National Synod formally accepts it after a period of observation.^[10] The National Synod can also expel a member for serious violations of the ECC constitution or internal regulations, or if the member's practices conflict with biblical teachings, church doctrine, or conduct standards. Resigning or expelled members cannot claim any portion of the ECC's social fund or property, nor request the return of any donations previously given, nor seek reimbursement for contributions already made. Contributions in cash or kind remain the property of the ECC. Nonetheless, former members remain liable for unpaid dues and any proportional liabilities of the Church.^[10]